Basic
Rifle
Rifle Ready-Up Drill
Source: Common training drill
2s
Par Time
10 yd
Distance
1
Rounds
10
Reps
10
Total Rounds
Every rifle skill starts with the same question: how fast can you put the first round on target from a ready position? The Ready-Up Drill strips the carbine down to its single most important mechanic — the transition from safe-and-ready to sights-on-target-and-breaking-the-shot. No reloads, no transitions, no movement. Just you, the beep, and one round that either hits the A zone or doesn’t.
Set one IPSC target at 10 yards (9 m). Start in low ready — muzzle depressed roughly 45 degrees, safety on, finger off the trigger. On the beep: mount the rifle, flick the safety, press the trigger, one round into the A zone. Par time is 1.5 seconds; competitive shooters run it in 1.2 or under. Run ten reps per session and log every time. If you’re consistently inside 1.5 with clean hits, switch to high ready or high port for a different presentation angle.
Progress is simple: shrink the split between beep and break without losing the A zone. When 1.2 is automatic from low ready, run the same drill from high ready, then from high port. Add a safety-on-and-return-to-ready step at the end of each rep to build the full cycle into your hands. The drill that feels boring is the one that saves your time on a stage.
Range Setup
Setup
1x IPSC target at 10 yd (9 m). Rifle with loaded magazine, safety on. Start in low ready position (muzzle depressed ~45 degrees). Shot timer required.
Scoring
Hit in the A zone = pass.
Hit in C or D zone = marginal, review your mount.
Miss = fail the rep.
Log each rep time individually.
Goal: all 10 reps under 1.5 seconds with clean A zone hits.
Tips
The mount drives the speed. Get the stock into the pocket the same way every time — consistent cheek weld and eye relief are worth more than a fast trigger finger. The safety comes off during the mount, not after.
Progression
Push par time from 1.5 toward 1.2 seconds with consistent A zone hits.
Switch start position to high ready for a different presentation angle.
Try high port for the hardest variant.
Add safety-on and return-to-ready at the end of each rep to build the full cycle.
Move the target to 15 yd (14 m) once 10 yd is automatic.